Thinking of making the twin grandkids a few bows to play with this summer Anyone have any experience or tips to share? Probably need to be 10# or less and I was thing 34-36" long. Have no idea where to start on stack. Just doing a straight limb. They are only two years old
If it will be a glass lam, I got no idea on stack but twere me, I'd get with Kenny and have him grind some 2 inch glass down as thin as possible. Cut the glass lengthwise into 1" strips (that's the Jess Stuart method). Do the same with a wood lam for core. One wood lam should work.
I used that method making bows for two granddaughters and it worked out very well. They are older so things were scaled up a bit. They are already on the verge of outgrowing them. :)
But, (gotta be a but) when my grand kids were at the age of your kids I built their first bows with oak slats as sold in the big box stores. Use the on3s that are 1.5" wide and make a pure pyramid with narrow tips. Almost no tillering involved. Sometimes a little sanding on the belly. Pick slats with clean grain either edge or flat and back them with paper bag or any similar paper. Mostly they don't need backings but it's for your peace of mind. :)
I might have one around for a picture.
Make them 3/4 wide 38 in. .030 glass and I think .125 parallel will get you close. I measured one for Kenny awhile (Maybe he remembers) back.
This one served well but eventually ended up with some tip damage. You can easily build a bunch of these in a weekend. I must've built 15 of these over the years.
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I have made and given away a bunch of kids bows, I always back them with bamboo just to make sure they don't fail and hurt a little one. Sorta' lawsuit protection as well, you never know.